Below is the text of Mr Major's written Parliamentary Answer on Unemployed Persons (Cost) on 18th November 1986.

Mr. Cohen Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost in benefits and lost tax and national insurance payments of those who are currently unemployed.

Mr. Major The cost of paying benefit to unemployed people in 1986-87 is estimated to be £6,750 million. Of that total £1,150 million represents housing benefit, a benefit which can continue to be paid to people who are in work. It is not possible to make a sensible estimate of the revenue, including national insurance contributions, forgone because of the number of variables that could affect this.